Expert: Dick Rogers - 7/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: "I live in WI and am 17 with a year of high school left. My main question is (in your opinion) what is the best path I can take towards becoming a detective in a big city such as LA or NY, etc. I have done a lot of researching lately and gained a bit of an understanding of how it works. I know that I would first have to become a uniformed police officer for some years. I get confused and unsure about what would be the best way to go about doing this. I am thinking of enlisting in the marines for four years in a few months from now so I can ship out early next year. I will try to get a degree in something while in the marines through online college. But again I don't know if this is the best path to take. I also don't know what degree I should try to obtain (Criminal justice, Police Science or criminology or etc.) So to rehash my question question--is the path i plan to take a good one toward helping me reach my dream, and if so what degree should i major in. If you think there is a different way i should go about becoming a detective in a large city, please tell me. I am sorry I couldn't ask this question clearer or in a more efficient manner, but I GREATLY appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions for me."

ANSWER: Chris, if the main reason you are joining the marines is to get a college education, I would suggest you try to obtain your degree (and one is really needed in today's world) straight out...in other words, get it over with and apply to whatever agency you are interested in.  The only good way to become a good detective is to first become a good street cop.  That way you will be well versed in case law, rules of evidence and will have a good deal of experience with people and developing informants.  Just be sure you make it clear all through your career that you want to become a detective and believe it or not, it will work out.  As for the type of degree you shoot for, mine was in psychology.  Frankly, police related degrees are overrated as most of the critical stuff you will learn will be in the police or sheriff's academy and through the experience you gain in the field.  The reason I'm not too pumped about the online degree stuff is that you may have a tendency to put the thing off and not get it done by the time the enlistment is up.  Anyway, I hope this helps.

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QUESTION: After I obtain a bachelor's degree in (what would you suggest), in a university of Wisconsin, would I be able to apply to any agency in any state? Also I would appreciate it if you could explain how the academy deal works (do you go into that before you get hired at a department or do you attend while your a street cop to gain eligibility to advance?). Also please explain the difference between applying to a local, state or federal agency (do you have to apply to local and then work your way up to state?)
The sentences in parentheses are what I am assuming about what the answer is to the question they are next to.
Again, I greatly appreciate you answering my questions and for helpful advise.

Answer
Chris, what you take in college is entirely up to you.  If police science appeals to you, go for it.  For me, those subjects were too limiting...and as I said before, the real education comes when you join a department.  With a degree in a complimentary subject, i.e., psychology, you have the option to seek other employment if law enforcement doesn't fit the bill.  With your college degree, you can apply to any city, county, state or federal law enforcement agency.  As for the academy, you are first hired, then sent to the respective academy to learn the rules and procedures of that particular agency.  I failed to mention earlier that in today's world it is very easy to find yourself in a compromising environment or situation that could reflect badly when you apply.  Make sure that there will be nothing in your background check that could result in a red flag to recruiters. The condensed version of success in law enforcement:  college, hiring, academy, experience, detective.  Go for it!